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Agricultural landscape and pesticide effects on honey bee biological traits

Article in Journal of Economic Entomology · March 2017

DOI: 10.1093/jee/tox111


Abstract

Sixteen honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies were placed in four
different agricultural landscapes to study the

effects of agricultural landscape and exposure to pesticides on honey bee
health. Colonies were located in three

different agricultural areas with varying levels of agricultural intensity
(AG areas) and one nonagricultural area

(NAG area). Colonies were monitored for their performance and productivity
for one year by measuring colony

weight changes, brood production, and colony thermoregulation.
Palynological and chemical analyses were

conducted on the trapped pollen collected from each colony and location.
Our results indicate that the land-
scape’s composition significantly affected honey bee colony performance and
development. Colony weight and

brood production were significantly greater in AG areas compared to the NAG
area. Better colony thermoregu-
lation in AG areas’ colonies was also observed. The quantities of
pesticides measured in the trapped pollen

were relatively low compared to their acute toxicity. Unexplained queen and
colony losses were recorded in the

AG areas, while colony losses because of starvation were observed in the
NAG area. Our results indicate that

landscape with high urban activity enhances honey bee brood production,
with no significant effects on colony

weight gain. Our study indicates that agricultural crops provide a valuable
resource for honey bee colonies, but

there is a trade-off with an increased risk of exposure to pesticides.

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